Usually, a sign reading YACHT CLUB means members only, or more accurately, not you, thank you very much. Not so here at the Kalkan Marina, where a traveler, no matter whether the arrival was by land or by sea, can venture up and over to the other side of the breakwater, to the town "beach," a lovely terrace jutting out into the harbor where you can rent lounges and umbrellas. There is also food service at the club.
Meanwhile, the actual Kalkan Beach is a man-made pebble beach, at the eastern end of town. Fed by the icy spring waters channeling down from the mountain, you might want to save this for a bracing sunrise dip or a refreshing cool-off at the end of a hot and dusty day.
Kaputas Beach is a tiny little sandy cove at the mouth of a dramatic gorge. Only 10 minutes from Kalkan, the dolmus crosses a bridge between the two sides of the formation and drops you off at the highway railing, at the top of a lofty (around 300 steps) narrow stairway down to the beach. Mavi Magara (Blue Cave, named for the hue of the boulders inside) is a short swim from Kaputas out and to the left, but as the beach is not guarded, only strong swimmers in pairs should do this. Bring plenty of water; there are no facilities (no food, no drink, no umbrellas) on this beach.
Over at Kalamar Bay is the Kalamar Beach Club (tel. 0242/844-3061) a secluded grouping of cement patio terraces with beach lounges, backed by a restaurant and snack bar. The guys that run the concession provide free transfers from Kalkan and make up the difference with food prices that are the highest in the area. Day rental of a lounge and umbrella is around 8TL and there are also showers. Boredom is kept at bay thanks to Aquasports (tel. 0242/844-2361), the on-site provider of watersports rentals and Kalkan Dive Centre (www.kalkandiving.com); they rent jet skis and water skis (40TL per 10 min.), and also give lessons for water-skiing. Banana boat rides and ringos are also available.
Area resort hotels also make their private beaches and facilities available to nonguests for a daily fee. Villa Mahal (tel. 0242/844-3268), one of the most honeymoon-friendly hotels in Lycia, occupies a pristine shoreline of Kisla Bay. The waterside stone terrace is served by a cafe, bar and restaurant, and the soothing sounds of the sea breezes. At Club Patara (tel. 0242/844-3920), you can take advantage of the three pools, the terrace lounges (around 20TL) and all of the watersports; however it's essential that you make reservations for anything motorized. Both are accessible via the free water taxi to the resort's platforms. The water taxi pulls up to Kalkan's pier adjacent to the lighthouse, but keep in mind that the wait around lunchtime will be a bit longer -- the captain goes AWOL for a bite to eat.
Only 20 minutes away by dolmus is Patara Beach, the longest and certainly one of the most beautiful stretches of sand in Turkey. The beach goes on for 18km (11 miles), which makes for a pretty long surfside stroll, especially when the fierce winds are at their peak. Entrance to the beach is through the ruins of the ancient city, so if you've come by car, you'll have to pay the entrance fee of 5TL to the site, which includes repeat visits to the beach (keep your ticket). If you've arrived on a dolmus, the beach is free, but you may want to rent an umbrella. Patara Beach is also a lesser-known nesting ground for the Caretta caretta turtle, so it is closed after dark.
The stunning scenery and sleek minimalist pool terrace at the Happy Hotel at Kalamar Bay opens up its pool for a daily fee of 15TL. Although there is no direct access to the sea, the views from the pool are incomparably beautiful.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
